26 Martyr Demetrius Myrrh

The Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-Streamer.

The Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-Streamer Whom the Holy Church Celebrates on October 26. Saint Demetrius was a Thessalonian, a most pious son of pious and noble parents, and a teacher of the faith of Christ. When Maximian first came to Thessalonica in 290, he raised the Saint to the rank of Duke of Thessaly. But when it was discovered that the Saint was a Christian, he was arrested and kept bound in a bath-house. While the games were underway in the city, Maximian was a spectator there. A certain friend of his, a barbarian who was a notable wrestler, Lyaeus by name, waxing haughty because of the height and strength of his body, boasted in the stadium and challenged the citizens to a contest with him. All that fought with him were defeated. Seeing this, a certain youth named Nestor, an acquaintance of Demetrius’, came to the Saint in the bath-house and asked his blessing to fight Lyaeus single-handed. Receiving this blessing and sealing himself with the sign of the precious Cross, he presented himself in the stadium and said, “O God of Demetrius, help me!” and straightway he engaged Lyaeus in combat and smote him with a mortal blow to the heart, leaving the former boaster lifeless upon the earth. Maximian was sorely grieved over this, and when he had learned who was the cause of this defeat, he commanded straightway and Demetrius was

The Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston

The Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-Streamer.

pierced with lances while he was yet in the bath-house. As for Nestor, Maximian commanded that he be slain with his own sword. Rest from Labour. Wine and oil allowed.

Dismissal Hymn of the Martyr. Third Tone

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GREAT Champion hath the whole world found thee to be when in grave perils; for thou dost put to flight the heathen, O victorious one. As thou didst humble Lyaeus’s arrogance and gavest boldness to Nestor in the stadium, thus, O Holy Great Martyr Demetrius, do thou entreat Christ God that we be granted great mercy.

Kontakion of the Martyr. Second Tone

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OD, Who hath given thee invincible strength, O Demetrius, hath adorned the Church with the royal purple of the streams of thy blood and hath kept thy city unharmed, for thou art the support thereof. Text: The Great Horologion © 1997 The Holy Transfiguration Monastery Brookline, Massachusetts 02445 Icons © The Holy Transfiguration Monastery Brookline, Massachusetts 02445

The Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston

The Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-Streamer.

Saint Nestor of Thessalonica

The Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston